Automobile license plate and theft indicator



y J. NELSON AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE AND THEFT INDICATOR Filed June 18.1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 24,1927.

J. NELSON AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE AND THEFT INDICATOR Filed June 1a.1923 ,lShee'ts-Sheet 2 I 1,6:2 May 24, 1927. v I J. NELSON I 9959-AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE AND THEFT INDICATOR Filed June '18, 1923 4Sheets-Sheet 3 May-24, 1927. I JvNELSON 1,629,959

AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE AND THEFT INDICATOR Filed June 18. 1923 4Sheets-Shut 4 Moms A/EASO/V glw/m- I Tliisinv'ention relates to devicesfor in Fatented May" 24,

,Joivs unison, 011 Los nnentnsycamroania. a

dicating the unauthorized use or theft of automobiles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hcense'number plate havinga removable p'ortionwyhich is of convenient size to -'be reniovedfromthe license plate and carried in the pocketiot the driver when heleaves'the autoinobile. V

provide a formotlicense plate which is'particulk i-ly Suited {to th'epra ti e in v "Vention, p

1' is a i bi t'ofthe invention' lto provide th license plate withfigures 115p ,;;-posedn two SUPGI'HDPOSQCl horizontal rows and to lnakeacentral area: of the plate removable so thatwhen this removable portion'is taken from its customary position,

the lower portions of thefigures in the upper'row' and the upperportions of the figures in the lower rowwlll'be removed therewith, thusleaving the plate with an opening in the center thereof whlch may bereadily discerned and fwith portions of the 5, figures constituting thenumber removed.

By reinovlng the proper removable portion belonging to the license plateupon the machine, owing to the tactthatthe nuinberswill not 'match upand therefore-the substitution will be immediately recognized.

; providea-license plate having narrow slots formed therein during thestamping ot the plate,these slots defining the removable area of theplate and having narrow webs betweenthe ends thereof, which webs may besevei'edfii it isjdesired to make this central P01131011. removable.

It is a further object ofthe invention provide animproved form ofattachment which may be employed to hold the; removable portions of thelicense plate.

out firstinakingthereplacement, The speclfic advantages of the inventionand lfurther objects thereof will be made evik "denthereinafter. v e

portions of. the numbers, is' made impossiblefor theremov'able portion,

It is, a Eurtler ob ect' oftheinvention to V the earth -at he has failedto replace the removable portion in the license 1 platehwhen he attemptsto drive away with- VAUVTOMOBILE LICENSE sm rts HE T innrca'ron.

Amn sia filed 'i ae'is; 923. Serial No. 646,126.

Referring to'the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only I,-@1,629,959 UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE".

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of an automobile having a license plateembodying theieatures of my invention in use thereon. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged face View of a complete license plate. l i

Fig. 3 is a VlGW showing the central rep movable portion of the licenseplate relt isla further ob 'ect ,ofth'e invention to Fig. 7 is a face'viewfto reducedscale of" the preferred form of my invention in whichform the removable portion of the license plate is made circularfan'd'is defined by circular slots or cuts having narrow webs disposed betweenthe ends thereof "which may be cut through so that the circular area maybe removed from the license plate.

Fig.8 is an enlarged face view of the pre-' ferred forniot licenseplate,' showing the central circular portionremoved therefrom anddisclosing throughthis opeiiing theattachn'ient means employed forretaining the removable plate portion. U

Fig. 9 is a face view of the central por tion which has been removedfrom the license plate shown in Fig. 8. Fig-.10 is a fragmentary rearView show- 111 11116 attachment members situated upon the back of thelicense plate shown in Fig. 8

and, upon the back of the removable portion shown in Fig. 9.

V Fig. .11 1s a sectionftaken on aplane represented by the line 11-11 ofFig.'10, this 1 figure also showing "the electrical con'nec ,tion's. i

' FigMIZ is aperspective view of thering member of the mounting device.

ar l View corresponding to is a perspective view of the disc portion.Fig, 1 1 is a fragmentary section takenon' a plane represented by theline l e-1e of. Fig-10.

Theinvention may be conveniently pram tis'ed by employing a rectangularnumber plate l of the type shown in Figs. 2and;"3' which maybeconveniently mounted upon a rear fender of ian'autoinobile 17 as shownin Fig. 1, or upon other portions of the automobile. lhe plate providedwith alicense number consisting of an upper row of figures l8 and alower row of figures 15). A central rectangular portion o 1" the plateis detachably secured and may be rcnniived from the plate 15, leavingtherein an opcning 22.

It: will be noticed that the removable portion 20 is of such size thatit includes the lower portions of the upper row of figures 1S, and upperportions of the lower row of figures 19; therefore. when the portion 20is rcn'ioved, portions or each ligure constituting the license nmnberare removed therewith. It is intended that the removal of the centralportion 20 designates that the driver has left the machine and that anyfurther use thereot without the replacement of the central portion 20 isunmithorizcd and may be considered as theit ot the automobile. Thelicense plate and the removaliile area thereof are of sntiicient size tobe plainly seen at quite a distance, the absence of the central portionof the plate being quickly recognized from a distance and imparting tothe observer the knowledge that the automobile is being wrongliullyused.

As shown in the section, Fig. :i. the license plate 15 has mounted uponthe back thereof latch mechanism foi holding the ren'iovable portion 20in place, and means for locking the mechanism is also provided toprevent the removal of the central portion 20 by maliciously inclinedpersons. A frame is secured by bolts 26 upon the rear of the plate 20and has an opening 27 therewith which receives a cooperating block 28,to which the removable portion 20 is secured. Above the frame 25 is alatch member 2.) having a latch dog 30 which is held in normallydownwardly disposed position by a spring ill and a ring or handle 32 bywhich the latch dog may be drawn upwardly. lhe handle portion 32 isprovided with an opening 33 which cooperates with the openings ill'lorn'ied in a strap men'iber 235. these openings 33 and Ill being inalignment wl m the latch dog is in engagement with the recess 236 formedin the block 28, so that the shackle ot a lock may be extendedtherethrough, thus preventing the lit'ting of the handle and the releiot the latch dog 80. A spring member 38 is mounted upon a plate 39 whichis s cured to the frame 25 and is so arranged that it forces outwardlyagainst the under side of the removable portion 20, thus tacilitatingthe removal of this portion when the latch mechanism is released, theaction of the spring tending to throw the block 28 and its attachedremovable portion 20 outwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig.5.

It will be recognized that although there may be numerous license platesof the same size and having the same size removable portions in use, theditierence oi the arrange ment of the ligurcs will prevent thesubstitution oi the removable portion o'l. one license plate for theremovable portion ol the other.

in Fig. 7 I show the 1'n-el'erretl torm ol' my invention. In this formof thc invcntion, :1 plate elt) wh :h may be stamped from sheet meta inthe customarv manner cm ployed. A cent 'al circular area ll is dcincd bynarrow slots l: or (ftlts pct-tomb ing' the sheet metal. Thesislots;-l:) are arcuated in torn: and are v eparated at their ends by narrowwebs l which constitute intercommunit-ating portionx bc tween the plate40 and the ccntral circular area. 'lle license plate is originallyproduced in the it'orm shown in Fig. T and may he used as an ordinarylicense plate. It, however, it is; desired to employ the plate as athet't prevention device, the web l may be severed and the circularcentral area -l-1 thus separated from the plate to. For the purpose ofsecuring the removable portion ll which is shown to enlarged scale inFig. to the plate ll) which is further shown in Fig; 8, attachmentmembers consistingot' a ring member 4-"? as shown in Fig. li -and a discmember 18 as shown in Fig. II are employed.

The ring men'iber elT is provided with a series of evenly spaced holesl.) tln'tauz'h which bolts may be extended to secure the ring to theback of the plate it). lhc ring -l-i' has inwardly e.;tcin'lin wings 52.which. as shown in Fig. 12. are outwardly otl'sct by narrow walls 5.)which cxtcnd between thc inner edge of the ring -l-T and the tab cs olthe inwardly extending wings :72. (Jutwardly extending cylindrical humpsan are "formed in the wings .72, thus providing |ocl-:- ing ridges whichcooper; to with channels 57 formed in the outwardly cidcnding wimp: 58ot' the disc -18 to which the removable portion of the license plate.--'ccurcd by bolts 59, Figs. 5) and it). The wings 5H arc oll'scl fromthe disc 43 by webs (it) which are of greater width than the narrowwalls which siu'iport the wings 53 of thc ring IT in otlsetrelationship. 'lhc circle delincd bv the outer edges 32 of the wing asslightly smaller than the circle defined by the inner edge tit} ol thering 47 hu.== matt ng it possible to pass the win on throue'h the spacesbetween the wings on ol the ring li'. 'lhc wings 58 are o'l diti'crcutlengths and the spaces between the wings .35 are varied to correspondtherewith in su h i. manner that the disc etS may be installed andsupported in the ring 4.? in only one position. thus maliing itimpossible to insert the plate in other than a position in which thefigures upon th removable portion 4-1 at the plates will register withthe ligures tormcd on thc plate 40.

c The discd is providedwith arcuated slots 7,0 through which the bolts59 which are employed for secu'ringithe removable portion 141 may pass.These slots provide a' movement of theb'o'l'ts so that the position oftheportion" il-maybe adjusted in register I with the figures formed uponthe license As'shown "in Figs. 8, 1 and 11, a spring (1 is mounted uponthe ring 47 by means of screws 72,,the inner end thereof extendinginwardly so as to engage and press outwardplocked position.

faces 75, Flg. 13, rest against the'inner faces 7 6, Figs. 10 and 12.The channels 57 of the ly against the disc 48. In Fig. 10, which is afragmentary rear-view of that portion of the license plate 40 from whichthe ring47 is mounted, the disc 48 having the remov able portion 41mounted thereon, is'shown in In other words, the outer wings 58.jfittingyover the ridges 55' of the wings 52, the spring forcingforwardly against the back of the disc 48 and holding the channels 57 inengagement with the ridges so thatrotation of the disc ispre vented.When it' is desired to remove the 7 portion 41 from theelicense plate40, the 1 plate is forced rearwardly asindicated by the arrow inFig.-11,so tl'iatthe spring 71 will be depressed and the disc 48' movedV rearwardly into a position in which the channels 57 will clear theridges 55. 7 plate may then be rotated in the directionia The dicated bythe-arrow 82in Fig. 10, thus bringing thewings into the positions 83, 84and 85, in which positions they will pass outwardly between the wings55. The edge of one of the wings 58 as indicated at in Figs. 10, 13 and14k is inwardly bent to provide a flange which will come into engagementwith the edge 91, 12, of the wing thusproviding a stop ,for preventingthe removable portiondlfrom being rotated beyond the position in whichthe channels 57 .and'the ridges 55 coincide when the remov able portion41 is being replaced.

A further feature of the invention consists of a means for notifying thedriverthat he has failed to replace the removable portion ofhis licenseplate. This feature consists of afcontact member 93 as shown i in Fig.11,

which is mounted upon the spring 71.

. hen the removable portional is removed ing-contact with a'me mber 94and closing a from the license plate, the spring is allowed to'swingforwardly in a direction opposite tothat indicated by the arrow 80, thusmak- V circuiti'which feeds the automobile horn 95',

6O and a conductor 99 which makes contact. withthe member 94 and hassituated therethis circuit-consisting of'a battery 96, a conductor 97making contact with the spring 71,

in the horn 95 and the ignition switch 98.

has

WVhen'the driver has failed to replace the portion 41 and entering thecar turns onthe ignition switch, the horn 95 will'beoperated andwillinform him that he has failed to replace'theportion 41 When theportioir 41 has been replaced, :so that; the spring- 71 isdepressed, themembers 93 and94- are separated andthe. circuit feeding horn 95 isbroken,=- therefore making it possible to close:

the ignition switch without operatingthe i horn. a r v. v H

I claim as my invention: 1 i

' 1 A license number display member comprising: a plate member uponwhich the figures constituting the license number are.

arranged, a central portion of saidplate of f sufficient areato includethe'lower portions of the upper row ofafigures and the upper portions ofthe lower row of figures being removable by the driver when leaving theautomobile upon which said display'member is mounted, to indicate thatany subsequent use of the automobile is unauthorized, .said i removableportions being circular in form and. means operative through relativerotae tion for removably securing said removable portion. p

2. license plate'for automobiles consisting of: a plate having a centralportion defined by perforations and connected to the surrounding part oftheplate byWebs, and 1 having figures on the front face thereof constituting a license number, said numbers being partially onsaidsurrounding part and constituting a license ntimber,said numbers beingpartially on sa1d surrounding part and partially on-sald central area ofsald plate,-

said central portion being detachable from said surroui'iding part bysevering said webs. 4. A; license plate for automobiles consisting of aplate having a central portion definedby long narrow arcuatedperforations and connected to the surroundlng part of the plate bywebs," and having figures on-the front face thereof constituting alicense numher, said numbers being partially on said surrounding partand partially on said central area of said plate, said central portionbeing detachable from said surrounding part v j by severing said webs.5, A license numb r display member comprising? a plate member upon whichthe figures constitutingthe license numberare arranged, a centralportion of said plate" of 'suilicient area to include the lower portionsof the upper row-of figures and the upper portions of the lower row offigures bein removable by'the driver when leaving the automobile uponwhich said display member is mounted, to indicate that any subsequentuse of the automobile is unauthorized, and means operative throughrelative rotation for reniovabl securing said removable portion.

6. A license plate for automobiles consisting of: a plate having acentral opening; a central portion adapted to be placed in said centralopening, said central portion being removable from said plate atsubstantially right angles to the plane thereof; a license number, apart of said number being carried by said central portion and a part ofsaid number being Carried by said plate; and means for retaining saidcentral portion in said opening, one element of said means beingatlaehed to said plate and another element of said means being allaehedto said central portion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set in) hand at Los Angeles,California, this 9th day of June, 1923.

J ONS NELSON.

